If you are planning to remodel or make improvements to your home this year, the National Prime Prevention Council and Alert ID reminds homeowners that when you do, it’s also a good time to upgrade the features that make your home safe. The Council believes that physical environment positively influences human behavior, so safety-smart improvements can create a “climate of safety” in your environment.

Home Improvement And Maintenance Steps To Take To Improve Home Safety

The Council advances four key principles that cannot only improve your Curb Appeal, but also make your home safer and more secure:

• Access control. While you’re improving the curb appeal of your home, you can also increase the security and deter criminals. As you make improvements that enhance the appearance of your home, make sure to upgrade the locks on your doors, windows, garage, sliders, and outbuildings. Consider a security system to further convince burglars to look elsewhere. Once you have improved locks and security in place, make sure to use them.

• Surveillance. Just as it does inside, updated exterior lighting can add beauty to your yard and repel burglars. Make sure that all entrances are well lit and consider adding motion detector lights to alert you of potential intruders in your yard.

• Territorial reinforcement. Homes that appear to be empty or abandoned are easy targets for burglars. The same thinking applies to homes in need of repair. When you are gone, set timers to turn on lights and raise and lower motorized window treatments to give the illusion that you are at home. Make sure to arrange for lawn maintenance and mail pick-up during your absence if you will be gone for a time.

• Maintenance. Bushes that add beauty and privacy to your yard can hide unwanted guests. Make sure to trim them so as not to obscure your view of who is in your yard or thinking about coming in. When you are in the repair process, make sure to secure your building materials at night and put ladders away to remove a burglar’s temptation to steal from your yard or make an unwelcome visit.

Stay Informed And Spread The Word

Aside from taking these principles into account when you are planning your annual Repair, renovation, and maintenance schedule, another step you can take to protect and beautify your home is to monitor your neighborhood. Local crime statistics are available online at your community’s website at sites such as Neighborhood Scout, and at the Alert ID.com site. By registering there, you can enter your address and see many useful crime statistics and local emergency alerts.

When you’re better informed about the type of crime that is most likely to occur in your neighborhood, don’t forget to share this knowledge with your neighbors. The Internet is your ally in protecting your home against crime, but so are your neighbors. A community that understands potential risks can work together to watch out for its members and work together to promote improvements that will help the whole neighborhood. In communities where many homeowners rent out their homes or leave their homes vacant for part of the year, it is especially important to keep properties in good repair and get your neighbors involved so that they can keep a watchful eye when you are away.

Make Affordable Locksmith Services Your Ally

Your other home protection partner is Affordable Locksmith, who can help you repair, maintain, and upgrade the locks on your home, mailbox, garage, and other buildings. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for routine and emergency service. For fast service, call 954-271-0019 in Broward County or 561-907-4884 in Palm Beach County. Make sure to check out our current promotions.